4
2.10 Low Pressure Control
If the low side refrigerant pressure drops to 15 PSIG, the
low pressure control opens and shuts off the compressor
and blower. It is an automatically reset control. Its primary
function is to prevent damage to the compressor if a leak
develops in the refrigeration system. It may also open if
the unit is A) used in a cool area (below 50°F) and the
defrost timer is not adjusted or B) stored where it is below
40°F and then started. Under these conditions, the unit
will restart within several minutes; it may cycle several
times until the unit warms up.
3 Maintenance
3.1 Air Filter
The Phoenix Arctic Max is equipped with 2 pleated fabric
air filters that must be checked regularly. The cooling air
ow lter is a MERV-11 high efciency lter. The condener
exhaust lter is a MERV-7. Operating the unit with a dirty
filter will reduce the dehumidifier’s capacity and efficiency
and may cause the compressor to cycle off and on
unnecessarily on the defrost control.
The filter can generally be vacuumed clean several times
before needing replacement. Replacement filters can be
ordered from the factory or purchased locally if available.
WARNING: DO NOT operate the unit without the filter or
with a less effective filter as the heat exchange coils inside
the unit could become clogged and require disassembly to
clean.
3.2 Storage
There are two issues to consider when the Phoenix Arctic
Max is stored between uses and both pertain to the
water trapped in the unit: damage caused by freezing or
biological growth.
The effect of the trapped water can be greatly reduced
if precautions are taken to remove as much as possible
before storage.
1. Use the pump purge switch to reduce the water level
in the reservoir.
2. Stretch the hose at to drain it completely.
If the unit will not be exposed to freezing temperatures, an
alternative to reduce biological growth is to ush the unit
with a bio-fungicide that is approved for use with copper,
aluminum and polyethylene. To ush:
1. Run the hose to a drain.
2. Remove the air filter. Remove top and front cover.
Slowly pour a quart of the chemical through the
evaporator coil fins and drain into the drain pan.
3. Flush coil with water.
4. Hold in the pump purge switch to reduce the water
level in the reservoir.
4 Service
WARNING: Servicing the Phoenix Arctic Max with its high
pressure refrigerant system and high voltage circuitry
presents a health hazard which could result in death,
serious bodily injury, and/or property damage. Only
qualified service people should service this unit.
Do not operate unit without the front panel in place.
4.1 Technical Description
The Phoenix Arctic Max uses a refrigeration system similar
to an air conditioner’s to remove heat and moisture from
incoming air and to add heat to the air that is discharged.
Hot, high pressure refrigerant gas is routed from the
compressor to the condenser coil. The refrigerant is cooled
and condensed by giving up its heat to the air that is about
to be discharged from the unit. The refrigerant liquid then
passes through a lter/drier and capillary tubing which
cause the refrigerant pressure and temperature to drop. It
next enters the evaporator coil where it absorbs heat from
the incoming air and evaporates.
The evaporator operates in a ooded condition, which
means that all the evaporator tubes contain liquid
refrigerant during normal operation. A ooded evaporator
should maintain constant pressure and temperature
across the entire coil, from inlet to outlet.
The mixture of gas and liquid refrigerant enter the
accumulator after leaving the evaporator coil. The
accumulator prevents any liquid refrigerant from reaching
the compressor. The compressor evacuates the cool
refrigerant gas from the accumulator and compresses it to
a high pressure and temperature to repeat the process.
